Gas lighter



Dec. 21, 1965 B. MEYLAN GAS LIGHTER Filed oct. 5, 1964 INVENTOR Fig.2

d Y M. m ,m ,A www Unitedy States Patent O 3,224,235 GAS LIGHTER Bernard Meylan, Villa La Ruche, Leysin-Feydey, Switzerland Filed Oct. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 401,433 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Oct. 9, 1964, 12,365/ 63 7 Claims. (Cl. 67-7.1)

The present invention has reference to am improved gas lighter incorporating a valve pin constructed as a burner means which is axially mov-able to and fro between an opening and a closing position, with the valve pin being operatively connected with ahand-operated friction wheel in order to trigger its movement,

With known lighters of this type, considerably simpler in construction anld, thus, distinctively cheaper in comparison with such type lighters possessing relatively complicated ignition push-button mechanism, the valve pin is raised into its open position by the gas pressurenside of the lighter or by the force of a spring, with the friction wheel being located in contact with the ilint in its ignition position. In order to interrupt the gas stream and to move the valve pin into its rest position, respectively, in accordance with a known prior art construction there is employeda spring element extending transverse to such valve pin, one end of which is used to displace a friction wheel mounted in a lengthwise groove from its ignition position into a rest position upon the spring element. In so doing, the free end of this spring element bearing against a shoulder portion of the valve pin is displaced downwardly and moves such valve pin into its closing position. In the rest position of the `friction wheel the spring element remains acted upon by such friction wheel, so that the valve pin also remains in its closing position until the friction wheel is again displaced into its ignition position and the spring element returns into its non-biased position. vHowever, this physical construction of lighter has associated with it considerable disadvantages. Thus, for inlstance, a considerable force must be exerted by the spring element against the pressure of the gas in order to bring the valve pin into its closing position and to positively retain such in this position, for which purpose corresponding large work must be undertaken during pushing of the friction wheel onto the spring element. However, the relatively large resistance which must be overcome during displacement of the friction wheel from the ignition position into the rest position can be the reason that the user does not completely bring the friction wheel into its 4rest position. Consequently, the spring element acted upon by the friction wheel does not completely press the valve pin. into its closing position-and, therefore, gas escapes from the burner, resulting in quick emptying of the gas container. A further disadvantage resides in the fact that after a certain time the spring element tends to weaken or relax, likewise` leading to impairment of the function of the mechanism.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved lighter which overcomes the disadvantages of the known constructions and, more specically, to produce a gas lighter permitting faultless and positive closinlg of the burner valve.

Another important object of the present invention is directed at an improved construction of gas lighter which is relatively simple and economical to manufacture, easy to handle and operate, relatively robust in construction, and effectively prevents gas leakage.

In order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, the gas lighter designed according to the teachings of the invention is provided with rocker or tiltable lever means which can be tilted or rocked to and ICC fro between a rest position and an ignition position, this rocker lever means carrying the friction wheel. Furthermore, such rocker lever means is movable together with an actuating arm articulated to said rocker lever in a direction approximately transverse to the direction of movement of the valve pin, with the free end of the actuating arm cooperating with the'valve pin through the agency of control `surface means, to thereby move such valve pin against the force of a spring into its open position during the rocking motion of the rocker lever means into its ignition position.

Due to this physical construction it is now possible that the valve pin, after passing through the rocking positionl of the rocker lever during its return movement back into the rest position, automatically returns into its closing position, thereby ensuring for a troublefree sealing of the burner valve.

Other features, objects land advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and drawing in which:

FIGURE l is a longitudinal cross-sectional View of a preferred embodiment of inventive lighter with the burner and ignition mechanism being illustrated in partial fragmentary side view; and

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the lighter depicted in FIGURE l.

Describing now the drawing, by referring to FIGURES l and 2 it will be seen that an air scoop 2 connects with a lighter housing 1, this air scoop at least partially surrounding a burner unit 3 and an ignition mechanism 4. This burner uni-t 3 comprises a valve pin or rod 5 providing the movable valve element of a valve 6 capable of closing a non-illustrated gas compartment of the lighter. The valve pin 5 is held in its illustrated closing position by a spring 7 arranged in a chamber 7a of a sleeve 20 and bearing against shoulder means 7b provided at the aforesaid Valve pin 5. Moreover, valve pin 5 is axially displaceable against the force of this spring 7 into its open position indicated in phantom lines in FIGURE l, whereupon gas can escape in the direction of the arrows 8 out of the gas lighter.

The aforementioned ignition mechanism or means 4 serves to ignite the escaping gas. This ignition means 4 essentially encompasses -a hand-operated friction wheel 9, the individual components of which will be considered hereinafter, and a flint 11 loaded by a spring member 10. The friction wheel 9 is carried by rocker or tiltable lever means 12, both of whose legs 12a and 12b are pivotably or rockably mounted in the wall 2b of the air scoop 2 through the agency of shaft means 13. More precisely, the friction wheel 9 is rotatably mounted by shaft 12e Ibetween both of the aforesaid legs 12a and 12b.

This friction wheel 9 is composed of the actual friction wheel member 9a and two neighboring hand-actuated disks 9b possessing a larger diameter than the aforesaid friction wheel member 9a. It will be appreciated that the disks 9b are advantageously provided with teeth means 9c or the like in order to improve actuation. The described construction permits tilting the friction wheel 9 by means of the rocker lever means 12 from its illustrated rest position into its ignition .position depicted in phantom lines in FIGURE l.

An actuating or operating arm 13 is articulated, at 13C, to the rocker lever means 12 in order to control the valve pin 5 in accordance with the position of the friction wheel 9 and such rocker lever means 12 respectively. The free end of this operating or actuating arm 13 engages in bifurcated or fork-like manner With'the valve pin 5. In so doing, the articulation of the actuating arm 13 with the rocker lever means 12 is effected such that this actuating arm 13, during rocking or tilting of the rocker lever means 12, moves approximately transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the valve pin 5.

The free end 13b of the actuating arm 13 exhibits a raised portion or projection 13a, which during the rocking motion of the rocker lever means 12 in the rocking or tilt direction indicated by the arrow 14 towards the described ignition position, travels upon control surface means 15 provided at the valve pin 5 to thereby lift the latter into the open position. Quite obviously, the control surface means 15 possessing the run-on incline 15a, best depicted in FIGURE l, can also exhibit a different contiguration, for instance the form of a heart-shaped cam. It is only essential that the valve pin 5 at least arrives in its open position before the friction wheel 9 has reached the ignition position.

As a general rule, in order to generate a ame the described gas lighter is held in one hand, whereupon there is carried out with the thumb the ignition movement in the direction of the arrow 14, with the friction wheel 9 and the rocker lever 12 during the first phase of movement being tilted into the ignition position. As a result, the burner valve 6 is opened in the aforedescribed manner, and during a second phase of movement the ignition occurs in well-known manner. In order to facilitate handling the upper edges of the air scoop 2 are constructed as guide surfaces 2a upon which there is placed the thumb.

In order to subsequently cut-olf gas delivery to the burner opening 5a the friction wheel 9 is pressed into the rest position in the direction of rocking or tilting of the rocker lever 12 indicated by the arrow 16. The pressure which must be exerted upon the friction wheel 9, in this case, must be maintained only for such length of time until the projection or raised portion 13a of the actuating arm 13 arrives in the zone of the left-hand portion of the inclined surface 15a of FIGURE l, in which position the so-called tilting position of the rocker lever 12 is reached. From this position closing of the valve 6 takes place automatically in that, the valve pin 5 in consequence of the force of the spring 7 moves downwardly into its closing position.

The likewise downwardly moving inclined surface a thus presses the actuating arm 13 to the left of the drawing, so that the rocker lever 12 also arrives in its rest position. In so doing, the force necessary for moving the friction wheel 9 and the rocker lever 12, respectively, into the rest position is considerably smaller than with heretofore known constructions, since in this case practically only the frictional resistance between the raised portion 13a of the actuating arm 13 and the control surface means 15 of the valve pin 5 bearing against one another in the ignition position must be overcome. Moreover, an absolutely troublefree closing of the valve 6 is guaranteed.

Furthermore, in order to provide an additional holding of the rocker lever 12 in the ignition position, such rocker lever is hingedly connected at the lighter with respect to the position of the flint 11 in such a manner that the axis of rotation of the friction wheel 9 lies in a plane 20, in the ignition position with respect to the direction of tilting depicted by the arrow 14, which is located at a distance a externally or outside of a plane containing the lengthwise axis 21 of the flint 11. In this position, the spring 10 presses the flint 11 in such a manner against the friction wheel 9 that the latter is acted upon by a force component effective from the direction of tilting to the ignition position which prevents unintentional return of the rocker lever 12 back into the rest position. In so doing, the inner surface of the air scoop 2 serves as stop means for the rocker lever 12.

In -addition to the aforementioned advantages the described physical structure furthermore permits rational production of the structural elements which, it will be appreciated are very simple in construction, thereby rendering possible economical mass production of the described gas lighter.

While there is shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A gas lighter comprising a housing, a displaceable valve pin constructed as a burner element and mounted for movement to and fro between an open position and a closing position, hand-operated friction wheel means operatively connected with said displaceable valve pin in order to trigger movement of the latter, rocker lever means for carrying said friction wheel means, flint means mounted `on said housing independently of the rocker lever and in contact with the friction wheel means, said rocker lever means being mounted for tilting movement between a rest position and an ignition position, actuating means for operably interconnecting said rocker lever means with said displaceable valve pin, said actuating means being articulated with said rocker lever means for movement together with the latter approximately transverse with respect to the direction of movement of said displaceable valve pin, control means cooperating with said displaceable valve pin, said actuating means including free end portion means cooperating via said control means with said displaceable valve pin in order to displace the latter into its open position.

2. A gas lighter comprising a housing, a displaceable valve pin constructed as a burner element and mounted for movement to and fro between an open position and a closing position, spring means for normally urging said displaceable valve -pin into said closing position, handoperated friction wheel means operatively associated with said displaceable valve pin in order to trigger movement of the latter, rocker lever means for carrying said friction wheel means, flint means mounted on said housing independently of the rocker lever and in contact with the friction wheel means, means for mounting said rocker lever means for tilting movement between a rest position and an ignition position, actuating means for operably interconnecting said rocker lever means with said displaceable valve pin, said actuating means being articulated with said rocker lever means for movement together with the latter approximately transverse with respect to the direction of movement of said displaceable valve pin, control surface means cooperable with said displaceable valve pin, said actuating means including a free end cooperating via said control surface means with said displaceable valve pin in order to displace the latter into its open position against the force of said spring means.

3. A gas lighter as defined in claim 2 including a lighter housing, said means for mounting said rocker lever means pivfotably connecting the latter to said lighter housing at the side of said burner element.

4. A gas lighter as detined in claim 2, further including a flint member, means for rotatably mounting said friction wheel means to said rocker lever means, said friction wheel means being rotatable about an axis of rotation which in the ignition position of said rocker lever means is located externally of the longitudinal axis of said int member with respect to the direction of tilting of said rocker lever means towards said ignition position.

5. A gas lighter as defined in claim 2, said control surface means comprising inclined surface means arranged at said displaceable valve pin, said free end of said actuating means being provided with projection means which run onto said inclined surface means during tilting movement of said rocker lever means into said ignition position.

6. A gas lighter comprising a housing, a displaceable valve pin constructed as a burner element and mounted for movement to and fro between an open position and a closing position, spring means for normally urging said dis. placeable valve pin into said closing position, handoperated friction wheel means operatively associated with said displaceable valve pin in :Order to trigger movement 0f the latter, rocker lever means for carrying said friction Wheel means, iiint means mounted on said housing independently of the rocker lever and in contact with the friction wheel means, means for mounting said rocker lever means for tilting movement between a rest position and an ignition position, actuating means for operably interconnecting said rocker lever means with said displaceable valve pin, said actuating means being articulated with said rocker lever means for movement together with the latter approximately transverse with respect to the direction of movement of said displaceable valve pin, control surface means co-operable With said displaceable valve pin, said actuating means including a free end cooperating via said control surface means with said displaceable valve pin in order to displace the latter into its open position against the force of said spring means, said free end of said actuating means and said control surface means extending at an angle to the direction of to and fro movement of said valve pin.

7. A gas lighter comprising a housing, a displaceable valve pin constructed as a burner element and mounted for movement to and fro between an open position and a closing position, spring means for normally urging said displaceable valve pin into said closing position, handoperated friction Wheel means Ioperatively associated with said displaceable Valve pin in order to trigger movement of the latter, rocker lever means for carrying said friction wheel means for turning about a given axis of rotation,`

flint means mounted on said housing independently of the rocker lever and in contact with the friction wheel means, means for mounting said rocker lever means for tilting movement between a rest position and an ignition position so that said given axis of rotation of said friction Wheel means moves through a path which extends at approximately right angles to the direction of to and fro movement of said valve pin, actuating means for operably interconnecting said rocker lever means with said displaceable valve pin, said actuating means being articulated with said rocker lever means for movement together with the latter approximately transverse with respect to the direction of movement of said displaceable valve pin, control surface means cooperable with said displaceable valve pin, said actuating means including a free end cooperating via said control surface means with said displaceable valve pin in order to displace the latter into its open position against the force of said spring means, said free end of said actuating means and said control surface means extending at an angle to the direction of to and for movement of said Valve pin.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,308,689 10/1962 France.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner. LLOYD L KING, Examiner. 

1. A GAS LIGHTER COMPRISING A HOUSING, A DISPLACEABLE VALVE PIN CONSTRUCTED AS A BURNER ELEMENT AND MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT TO AND FRO BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION AND A CLOSING POSITION, HAND-OPERATED FRICTION WHEEL MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID DISPLACEABLE VALVE PIN IN ORDER TO TRIGGER MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER, ROCKER LEVER MEANS FOR CARRYING SAID FRICTION WHEEL MEANS, FLINT MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING INTDEPENDENTLY OF THE ROCKER LEVER AND IN CONTACT WITH THE FRICTION WHEEL MEANS, SAID ROCKER LEVER MEANS BEING CONNECTED FOF TILTING MOVEMENT BETWEEN A REST POSITION AND AN IGNITION POSITION, ACTUATING MEANS FOR OPERABLY INTERCONNECTING SAID ROCKER LEVER MEANS WITH SAID DISPLACEABLE VALVE PIN, SAID ACTUATING MEANS BEING ARTICULATED WITH SAID ROCKER LEVER MEANS FOR MOVEMENT TOGETHER WITH THE LATTER APPROXIMATELY TRANSVERSE WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID DISPLACEABLE VALVE PIN, CONTROL MEANS COOPERATING WITH 